Sanitary garment for incontinent persons

ABSTRACT

A sanitary garment for incontinent persons including a moisture impervious flexible holder cover having side-edge and end flaps providing a reservoir for receiving absorbent pads and wherein the flaps are foldable thereover so that the pads are supported within a moisture impervious reservoir. A belt serves to support the cover and pads as a protective garment between the crotch and from the waist of the wearer.

United States Patent 11 1 Ralph 1 1 SANITARY GARMENT FOR INCONTINENTPERSONS [76] Inventor: Harold .1. Ralph, 2002 E. Santa Clara St., Apt.M-l, Santa Ana, Calif. 92701 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:63,958

Related US. Patent Documents Reissue of:

[64] Patent No.: 3,441,025

Issued: Apr. 29., 1969 Appl. No.: 452,056

Filed: Apr. 30, 1965 [52] US. Cl. 128/289 [51] Int. Cl. A61f 5/44 158]Field of Search 128/284, 286, 287-291 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 474,378 5/1892 Ferguson 128/286 1,159,362 11/1915 Cornell128/289 1.276.238 8/1918 Lowder 128/291 11 E Re. 28,483 45 Reissued July15, 1975 1.664626 4/1928 Ito 128/286 2,444,973 7/1948 Bcst..... 128/2872,545,674 3/1951 Ralph 128/287 2.575.164 11/1951 Donovan..... 128/2872.575.165 11/1951 Donovan 128/287 2,616,427 11/1952 Petit 128/2892,662,526 12/1953 Sanford... 128/287 2,685,879 10/1954 Emmet.... 128/2872,914,069 11/1959 Osborn 128/287 2.977957 4/1961 Clync 128/291 3,042,0437/1962 Wuhrlin [28/284 3,094,990 6/1963 Neilson 128/289 3,103,930 9/1963Collett et a1. 128/286 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet [57] ABSTRACTA sanitary garment for incontinent persons including a moistureimpervious flexible holder cover having side edge and end flapsproviding a reservoir for receiving absorbent pads and wherein the flapsare foldable thereover so that the pads are supported within a moistureimpervious reservoir. A belt serves to support the cover and pads as aprotective garment between the crotch and from the waist of the wearer.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Reissued July 15, 1915 Re. 28,483

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l l l \Y L 35 3/ v5% H v ATTORNEY- Reissued July 15,1975 v Re. 28,483

2 Sheets-"Sheet 2 25 E 51 mmow J. RALPH WW r.

SANITARY GARMENT FOR INCONTINENT PERSONS Matter enclosed in heavyhrackets[ 1 appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to sanitary garments for incontinent persons, within the meaningof uncontrollable discharge. More particularly the invention relates tosuch a flexible launderable garment impervious to leakage, fitted to theanatomy in the area of the hips and crotch, and having readilyreplaceable absorbent pads which are convenient for replacement andlaundering.

It is well known that there are persons who may have a weakness or lackof efficient control of personal discharge from either the rectum orurinal outlet. Such lack of control is generally referred to asincontinence,

and the persons so troubled may be referred to as being incontinent. Thedifficulty may affect either ambulatory or bedridden persons. and it isanticipated that in its various degrees such a condition may be mildlyinconvenient or exceedingly troublesome in the care and treatment ofeither ambulatory or bedridden patients.

2. Description of the Prior Art Absorbent pads incorporated intobloomer-like hipenclosing garments have been tried, but have been foundbulky, lacking in ventilation of the enclosed and covered skin,producing chafing and discomfort, inclined to drip the pad into theenclosing bloomer garment. difficult to launder and change to areplacement garment, and usually of a bulk visible from the exterior ofordinary clothing of ambulatory patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the objects of the invention is toprovide a suitably supported moisture impervious garment including aholder cover and an absorbent pad for accommodation of discharge ofincontinent persons. and snugly fitting the anatomy of the wearer.

Another object is to provide in such a garment a convenient efficientmeans for detachably supporting on the body of the wearer an imperviousholder of an absorbent pad.

A further object is to provide a highly absorptive pad and garment, inwhich the parts may be readily laundered and handled for washing.

A further object is to provide such a garment for incontinent personswhich provides exposure of a maximum area of adjacent cuticle toventilation of atmospheric air.

Another object is to provide for such a personal use, a pad having highabsorptive qualities and readily installed. changeable and comfortablein wearing, as well as providing means by which discharge of excretionsmay be localized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the foregoing and other objectsin view, a preferred form of the invention is described in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown mounted in operativeposition.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a completed garment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of reverse face of holder member shown in FIG. 3,with ends of back sheet extended its full length.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged lateral transverse section on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatic perspective sectional view of anupper right hand corner of the garment of FIG. 3, with a retrovertedend-flap member in unfastened position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective assembly view of constituent pads and holdermember.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a supporting belt member.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of portion of a pad on line 99 ofFIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings in whichlike reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the severalviews, basically the completed garment comprises three parts which aregenerally indicated as a coveror holder 15, a pad or pads 16, and meansfor supporting the holder and pads upon the person, such as belt 17.

The holder 15 comprises a sheet of moisture impervious vinyl plasticmaterial flexible in its entirety and of a formulation that is tough andwill withstand repeated laundering, and resistant to deterioration fromI frictional rubbing as well as from either the acids of alka linity ofthe human discharges with which the pad normally comes into contact byits use.

This sheet structure of the holder 15 is elongated and comprises a backsheet generally indicated 19, having side flaps 26 connected along itslongitudinal edges. The back sheet 19 has one end portion 20 relativelywide transversely which may be termed the rump portion, and an oppositeend portion 21 which is relatively narrow transversely. and may betermed the abdomen portion. The wider end portion 20 has its oppositelongitudinal side edges 24 converging relatively from the wider free endtoward a longitudinal central crotch portion 23, and has its oppositerelatively narrower end portion 21 provided with side edgessubstantially relatively parallel. Adjacent the central crotch portion23, the back sheet and holder have an accentuated inward taper of thelongitudinal side edges at the juncture 22 of said opposite endportions, which may taper into the central crotch portion 23,exemplified as 25 to the longitudinal center line of the holder.

Along the entire length of each of the opposite longitudinal side edges24 of the back sheet 19 there is imperviously connected. as at 25, oneedge of flexible elongated relatively narrow side-edge flaps 26 whichfreely overlie the relatively opposite side edge portions of the backsheet for a substantial area and have their opposite or inner edges 26afree, thus leaving the longitudinal central area of the back sheetfreely exposed. Preferably these side flaps 26 are of greater width atthe wider end portion 20 of the holder than at the narrower portion 21and at the central crotch portion 23. At the opposite ends of the sideflaps 26 the free edges thereof have an outward arcuate curve 27 to thecorner juncture 28 of the longitudinal side edges and the transverse endedges of the back sheet. These side flaps 26 are of substantially thesame flexible impervious tough vinyl plastic material as the back sheet19. The impervious connection of the side flaps to the back sheet may beby any well known plastic-welding process, but is preferably by anedging of cotton tape 29 and suitably stitched, which may also be acommon finish to other exposed edges of the vinyl sheet, thoughmanifestly plastic welding may also be employed for any or all suchconnections or edgings. The cotton strip edging 29 is preferred becauseit launders extremely efficiently and provides a softer edge against thehuman skin, and will normally generally outlast a plastic edge, since itbecomes softer and smoother with use and age, whereas a welded plasticedge may harden and have rough spots after repeated washing and drying.The opposite end edges 31 of the plastic back sheet which are free andnot connected to another part of the holder may be optionally finishedwith plastic welds or any overlocked thread stitch 32, preferably thelatter.

Since the holder is to receive therein pads 16, (to be furtherdescribed), it is here noted that the length of the back sheet, inplanar form, is of greater length than the pads 16 which are mounted inthe holder, such surplus of length providing end-flaps indicated 34, 35,wherein the back sheet maybe retroverted upon itself and thus provideimpervious sealed pockets 34a. 35a. at the opposite ends of the backsheet, which pockets receive therein the opposite ends of the relativelyshorter pads 16 with the retroverted ends 34, 35 folded thereover. lnthus folding over the opposite ends 34, 35 of the back sheet, it is tobe noted that the adjacent end portion of the side flaps 26 and theimperviously sealed edge are also folded over, thus completing theimpervious seal of pockets 34a, 35a at each corner of the holder member15.

Completing the description of holder 15 there are snap-fastener buttons36 adjacent each end of each side edge of the holder, and correspondingsnap-eyelets 37 at the edge portion of the back sheet so that the endflaps 34, 35 may be suitably held in place to form the end pockets 34a,35a.

Removable pads, heretofore generally indicated 16, are provided tocooperate with the holder 15 and its back sheet, the side flaps 26 andend pockets 34a, 35a. and also with a belt support means 17 to bedescribed.

The pads generally indicated 16 are of soft and absorbent material, andmay be of the disposable type or of the readily launderable type, suchas cotton. Their peripheral outline conforms to a convenient snuglyslidable fit within the holder in overlying relation to the back sheet19, and underlying the side flaps 26 and the retroverted end members 34,35. Thus, the pads are shorter than the overall length of the back sheet19 as shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, in use, more than one pad is employedsimultaneously in the holder, the plurality of'pads being employed inrelatively overlying relation. A plurality of pads are preferred becausesuch a plurality permits adjustment of pad structures for persons whomay have differing degrees of aggravated conditions, or who use theentire pad structure for varying uses, and-for the further reason that aplurality of overlying pads by irregularity of their opposed surfacesprovide interstitial spaces 38 between a plurality of pad layers, intowhich may seep quantities of liquid fecal or liquid discharge, as willbe further mentioned. Facility in laundering and drying of several thinpads as compared with one thick pad also is a further advantage of theuse of several superposed washable pads. as well as permittingadjustment of the number of superposed pads to the special need of aparticular person.

Suitable types of pads are shown in the collective view of FIG. 7, inwhich pads 39 and 40 have a central opening 41 in the planar area, andpad 42 has a continuous planar area without such a central opening. Thecentral opening is for the obvious purpose of providing a sump orretaining well in overlying pads to receive and localize discharge ofstool, commonly referred to as B. M., in order to prevent its spreadover the adjacent surrounding surface of the user of the pad, whereaswith some users whose uncontrolled discharge is solely urinal, a singleor plurality of superposed layers of pad 42 without the central opening41 is preferred. It is to be understood that while a pad or pads of anysuitable disposable type and material may be entirely practicalandsuitable in the holder 14, it is preferred that these pads 16 shall eachbe made of two or more congruent overlying layers of relatively thinsoft absorbent material rather than a single layer of relatively thickmaterial, since the double layer of thin material provides an advantageof softness especially at the crimped area of the crotch 23, as well asfacilitating laundering and drying. Where the pads have a central planaropening 41, it is to be noted that there is a sewed seam 44 around thearea of the opening in between the two superposed layers of the pad.Such an internal seam may be formed by sewing the two layers togetheraround the edges of the opening, whereupon the layers of the pad areturned inside out which may be accomplished by sewing one-halfcircumferentially of the opening at one time andthen turning the layersinside out so that the seam 44 is within the layers of the pad andinvisible from the exterior of the pad, thus serving two purposes ofpreserving the softness of the pad in the area of the crotch and alsoforming a puckered edge 45 which, when two such pads are juxtaposed inoverlying use, provide interstices 38 between the overlying edges of theopening 41 of the superposed pads, for facilitating the spread andabsorption of liquid or soft fecal matter.

These pads 16 are of a planar size so that their transverse width fitssnugly and slidably in overlying relation to the back sheet and withinthe longitudinal side edges of the back sheet so that the side flaps 26and free edges 26a may conveniently fold flatly and freely over suchpads. The pads are of a length sufficiently shorter than the length ofthe back sheet 19 so that when the end members 34, 35 including theimperviouslyconnected end portions of side flaps 26, are retrovertedthereover. said retroverted end members may be connected to theback-sheet by the snap fasteners 36, 37, whereby there are providedmoisture impervious reservoir corner pockets at the opposite sides ofpockets 34a 35a of the opposite ends of the holder, with the edgeportions of the pad therein.

It may be desirable to provide different sizes of the garment to betteraccommodate large and small persons As an illustrative example ofrelative proportions of a satisfactory size, the back sheet of theholder 15 may have an overall length of 25 inches, the fold-overportions 34, 35 may have a width of 2 A to 2 /2 inches (longitudinal ofthe holder), so that in use the holder and pads would have a length ofsubstantially 20' inches. The maximum width at the wider end portion 20of the holder may be 12 inches and tapering to a width of 9 inchesadjacent the crotch portion 23; the narrower end portion 21 of theholder having a substantially uniform width of 6 /2 inches, with theaccentuated converging taper of side edges between the wider portion 20and narrower portion 21 being substantially25 to center line of theholder, as previously stated. The crotch portion 23 is preferably ofsaid narrower dimension of width to facilitate passing thereof betweenthe legs. In the wider part of the holder the overlying side flaps 26may conveniently have a width of 2 /5 inches, whereas in the narrow endportion 21 and in crotch portion 23, the side flaps may convenientlyhave a width substantially 1% inches. Manifestly, this dimension for thecrotch portion 23 is wider than the normal crotch portion of humananatomy. but the above width is practical for an adult person andprovides, firstly, for a condensing or impacting of the width of theabsorptive pad at a critical part of the garment, and secondly, itprovides an inward pressure on the side flaps 26 at the crotch, whichinsures that the side flaps will be maintained overlying the pad andthus maintain an impervious reservoir within the holder 15.

Referring now to the beltsupport 17, it will be observed from FIG. 4that on the outer face'of the back sheet which is the reverse from theflaps 26 and the snap fasteners 36, 37, there are provided at theopposite side edges and adjacently spaced from opposite ends of theholder 15, other snap fasteners 50 which cooperate with the belt supportmeans 17 to be described.

The belt means heretofore generally indicated 17, is provided forsupporting the holder and pad 16 in their appropriate positions as aprotective garment, which manifestly contemplates that the broaderportion 20 of the pad will be in superficial contact with the derriere,and with the narrow central portion 23 within the crotch, and the narrowend portion 21 extending upwardly to overlie the lower portion of theabdomen adjacent the crotch, asbest shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such beltsupport means is best illustrated in the plan view of FIG. 8 as a snuglyform-fitting abdominal belt portion 51 contoured to conveniently andsnugly encircle the loin or waist portion of the body of the wearerimmediately above the hips. The belt has a downward dip portion 52 atlower edgedportions, adapted to dip over the opposite hips. At oppositecooperating ends, the belt is provided with any suitable type ofreleasable fastening means to secure it around the waist. such as snapfasteners 53. The belt may be of any suitable washable material.

At the lower edge of each of the downward dip portions 52 of the belt,over each of-the opposite hips, the belt has a relatively spaced frontpair and a relatively spaced rear pair of flexible elastic suspendersconnected to the belt, such as by sewing 54. The front pair ofsuspenders are indicated at 55, and are relatively spaced and disposedangularly so that in use they are positioned in the valley of the bodyof the wearer between the abdomen and thigh. The rear pair of suspenders57 are likewise relatively spaced and each suspender has one end sewedto the belt at 54 so that in use the rear suspender will overlie theopposite side faces of the rump and extend convergingly downwardlysufficiently so that snap fasteners 59 may releasably engage andcooperate with snap fastener members 50 on the wider or rump portion ofthe holder. Each of these suspender members, both front and rear, arepreferably provided with suitable means for adjustment of its length.such as the buckles indicated 60. Such buckles also provide a meanswhereby the elastic portion of the suspenders may be detached duringlaundering of the belt. The tension of the elasticity of thesesuspenders 55, 57 serves the double purpose of supporting the holder andpad in operative wearing position, and also tensions or draws up themost vulnerable crotch portion of the holder and side flaps 26 tightlyagainst the body in the crotch to prevent leakage during a period of aninitial flush discharge in the holder, and until the pad may absorb suchflush of liquid.

It is to be observed that the longitudinally extended front and rearsuspenders not only releasably support the holder and pads, but alsoprovide open exposure to atmosphere of body portions at hips and thighs,as well as saving the material which, in the usual diapering device,covers the hips and thighs, which it is one of the objects of thisinvention to eliminate.

If desired, reinforcing strips 61 of cloth tape may extend transverselyacross the plastic back sheet to serve as a reinforcement and to relievethe strain of wear or laundering on the plastic sheet, for the manifestpurpose of extending the useful life thereof. Where such reinforcingstrips are conveniently available, it is desir able to mount the snapfasteners at the ends of such reinforcing strips.

The efficacy and operation of the device appears manifest from thedescription. The device is believed to be more efficient and convenientfor the bed-ridden patient than known devices, since in removal andreplacement of the holder and pads it is only necessary to release thesnap fasteners 50, 59 and the body of the patient need only be slightlyraised at the hips sufficiently to cleanse the parts, if necessary. andslip one end of a renewed holder or pad under the patient and then againconnect the snap fasteners. The device is also simple, efficient andconvenient for ambulatory persons, since the close fitting belt anddependent elastic suspenders draw the side flaps 26 and the holder 15and pads closely into the critical area of the crotch, and the snapfasteners provide for a convenient changing of the pad without requiringremoval of the wearing garments which are normally worn thereover; also,the well known form-fitting or form-retaining elastic girdle may be wornover the garment of the invention, which, because of the flat snugfitting of the belt and pad holder to the contour or anatomy, wouldnot'be apparent from the exterior of clothing; for the same reason thestructure of the invention may also be worn either over or under ahernia truss. Because of the planar tapered or wedge shape of holder 15and pads 16 they cover only the minimum essential skin area and thuspermit ventilation, and also conserve use of material in formation ofboth holder and pads. It is also to be noted that when it is desired tochange the entire garment for laundering, it is not necessary tomanually handle the soiled part of the holder or the absorbent pads,since the end flaps 34, 35 of the holder may be opened and the holdermanually held with the narrow end of the holder upwardly, whereupon,because of the wedge or tapered shape of the holder and pads, andespecially the accentuated converging taper at the crotch, the pads willdrop out of the wide end of the holder without manual contact.

Having described the invention, 1 claim:

l. in a sanitary garment of the character described. a holder membercomprising a flexible moisture impervious elongated back sheet havingmoisture impervious side-edge flaps imperviously connected along theopposite longitudinal side edges of the back sheet. said sideedge flapsextending the entire length of the back sheet and inwardly over the faceof the back sheet to freely overlie a substantial area of the back sheetadjacent the longitudinal edges of the back sheet and providing anelongated open area of the underlying back sheet between the opposededges of said respective flaps, said holder being adapted to receiveabsorbent pads overlying the back sheet and underlying the side-edgeflaps, a crotch portion between the ends of said holder, said crotchportion having an accentuated converging taper of the opposite sideedges of the holder generally in the central area and between the endsthereof, and relatively spaced releasably cooperating fastener memberssecured to the face of the holder adjacent the opposite ends of itslongitudinal side edges, a portion of said fasteners cooperating wherebyflexible end portions may be retroverted upon itself and releasablysecured to provide releasable moisture impervious pockets at oppositeends of pads within the holder. the corners of said pockets being soretroverted as to be moisture impervious.

2. A sanitary garment useful for incontinent persons as set forth inclaim 1, and including a belt means for encircling the waist of a wearerand releasable connecting means between said belt and said holder, andin which the belt has depending dip portions at its lower edge adjacentthe belt portions which normally overlie the hips. and elongatedsuspender means having one end connected to said belt and havingreleasable fastener members at the opposite end for releasably engagingcooperating fasteners adjacent to the respective opposite ends of theholder member.

3. in a sanitary garment useful for incontinent persons, the combinationof a holder member comprising a flexible moisture-impervious elongatedback sheet havingretrovertible opposite end portions and [releasablefastener] means for securing said end portions in pocket-formingrelation, side-edge flaps imperviously connected along the entire lengthof the longitudinal side edges of the back sheet, said side edge flapsextending inwardly to freely overlie a substantial area of the backsheet and providing an elongated open area of the underlying-back sheetbetween the opposed edges ofsaid respective flaps. said holder having arelatively wide portion at one of its ends and a relatively narrowportion at its opposite end, and a crotch portion betweenv said endportions. the crotch portion having an accentuated converging taper ofthe opposite side edges of the holder generally in the central areabetween the said wider portion and said narrower portion, said narrowerportion of the holder being of lesser width than the wider portionbeyond said crotch, means for supporting said holder upon the person,and an absorbent pad having peripheral contour substantially similar tothe peripheral contour of the holder when said holder had its oppositeend portions retroverted to form end pockets having moisture imperviousCorners whereby said pad may snugly and releasably fit within saidholder overlying the back sheet and underlying the side flaps andretroverted end portions.

4. A sanitary garment of the character described as set forth in claim 3and in which the pad in said combination has a plurality of pad layersoverlying in register, at least a portion of which have an openingadjacent the crotch portion providing a sump at a relatively narrowportion intermediate the ends of the pad.

5. A sanitary garment useful for incontinent persons as set forth inclaim 4, and in which the pads having said sump opening are providedwith a plurality of layers of absorbent material connected around theperiphery of the sump by a seam which provides a crimped edge providinginterstices between edges of overlying pad members around said sump.

6. In a sanitary garment of the character described an absorbent pad formounting in a moisture-impervious holder member, said pad having arelatively wide portion at one of its ends and a relatively narrowportion at its opposite end and a crotch portion between said endportions, the crotch portion providing an accentuated converging taperof the opposite side edges of the pad between said wider portion andsaid narrow end portion, said pad having a plurality of pad layersoverlying in register, at least a portion of which have an openingproviding a sump adjacent the crotch portion, and wherein the padshaving said sump are provided with a plurality of layers of absorbentmaterial connected around the periphery of the sump by a seam whichprovides a crimped edge for forming interstices between edges ofoverlying pad members. the said seam being turned inwardly between theplurality of layers of absorbent material of such pad.

7. A sanitary garment useful for incontinent persons as set forth inclaim 3, wherein said means for securing said end portions in pocketforming relation comprise releasable fitsteners.

8. In a sanitary garment useful for incontinent persons, tltecombination of u ltolder member comprising a flexi-t hletnoisttire-impervious elongated back sheet having retrovertible oppositeend portions, means for securing said end portions in pocket-formingrelation, side-edge flaps intperviottsly connected along the entirelength of the longitudinal side edges of the back sheet, said side edgeflaps extending inwardly to freely overlie a substantial area of thebuck sheet and providing an elongated open area of the underlying backsheet between the opposed edges ofsaid respective flaps, said holderhaving a narrow crotch portion between its opposite end portions, andsaid longitudinal side edges having an accentuated converging taper ofthe opposite side edges of the ltolder from one of said end portionsinto said crotch portion, meansfor supporting said holder upon theperson, and an absorbent pad having a peripheral contour similar to theperipheral contour of the holder when the holder has its opposite endportions retroverted to form end pockets, and fitted snugly andreleasubly within said holder over the back sheet and under the sideflaps and retroverted end portions.

1. In a sanitary garment of the character described, a holder membercomprising a flexible moisture impervious elongated back sheet havingmoisture impervious side-edge flaps imperviously connected along theopposite longitudinal side edges of the back sheet, said side-edge flapsextending the entire length of the back sheet and inwardly over the faceof the back sheet to freely overlie a substantial area of the back sheetadjacent the longitudinal edges of the back sheet and providing anelongated open area of the underlying back sheet between the opposededges of said respective flaps, said holder being adapted to receiveabsorbent pads overlying the back sheet and underlying the side-edgeflaps, a crotch portion between the ends of said holder, said crotchportion having an accentuated converging taper of the opposite sideedges of the holder generally in the central area and between the endsthereof, and relatively spaced releasably cooperating fastener memberssecured to the face of the holder adjacent the opposite ends of itslongitudinal side edges, a portion of said fasteners cooperating wherebyflexible end portions may be retroverted upon itself and releasablysecured to provide releasable moisture impervious pockets at oppositeends of pads within the holder, the corners of said pockets being soretroverted as to be moisture impervious.
 2. A sanitary garment usefulfor incontinent persons as set forth in claim 1, and including a beltmeans for encircling the waist of a wearer and releasable connectingmeans between said belt and said holder, and in which the belt hasdepending dip portions at its lower edge adjacent the belt portionswhich normally overlie the hips, and elongated suspender means havingone end connected to said belt and having releasable fastener members atthe opposite end for releasably engaging cooperating fasteners adjacentto the respective opposite ends of the holder member.
 3. In a sanitarygarment useful for incontinent persons, the combination of a holdermember comprising a flexible moisture-impervious elongated back sheethaving retrovertible opposite end portions and (releasable fastener)means for securing said end portions in pocket-forming relation,side-edge flaps imperviously connected along the entire length of thelongitudinal side edges of the back sheet, said side edge flapsextending Inwardly to freely overlie a substantial area of the backsheet and providing an elongated open area of the underlying back sheetbetween the opposed edges of said respective flaps, said holder having arelatively wide portion at one of its ends and a relatively narrowportion at its opposite end, and a crotch portion between said endportions, the crotch portion having an accentuated converging taper ofthe opposite side edges of the holder generally in the central areabetween the said wider portion and said narrower portion, said narrowerportion of the holder being of lesser width than the wider portionbeyond said crotch, means for supporting said holder upon the person,and an absorbent pad having peripheral contour substantially similar tothe peripheral contour of the holder when said holder had its oppositeend portions retroverted to form end pockets having moisture imperviouscorners whereby said pad may snugly and releasably fit within saidholder overlying the back sheet and underlying the side flaps andretroverted end portions.
 4. A sanitary garment of the characterdescribed as set forth in claim 3 and in which the pad in saidcombination has a plurality of pad layers overlying in register, atleast a portion of which have an opening adjacent the crotch portionproviding a sump at a relatively narrow portion intermediate the ends ofthe pad.
 5. A sanitary garment useful for incontinent persons as setforth in claim 4, and in which the pads having said sump opening areprovided with a plurality of layers of absorbent material connectedaround the periphery of the sump by a seam which provides a crimped edgeproviding interstices between edges of overlying pad members around saidsump.
 6. In a sanitary garment of the character described an absorbentpad for mounting in a moisture-impervious holder member, said pad havinga relatively wide portion at one of its ends and a relatively narrowportion at its opposite end and a crotch portion between said endportions, the crotch portion providing an accentuated converging taperof the opposite side edges of the pad between said wider portion andsaid narrow end portion, said pad having a plurality of pad layersoverlying in register, at least a portion of which have an openingproviding a sump adjacent the crotch portion, and wherein the padshaving said sump are provided with a plurality of layers of absorbentmaterial connected around the periphery of the sump by a seam whichprovides a crimped edge for forming interstices between edges ofoverlying pad members, the said seam being turned inwardly between theplurality of layers of absorbent material of such pad.
 7. A sanitarygarment useful for incontinent persons as set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid means for securing said end portions in pocket forming relationcomprise releasable fasteners.
 8. In a sanitary garment useful forincontinent persons, the combination of a holder member comprising aflexible moistureimpervious elongated back sheet having retrovertibleopposite end portions, means for securing said end portions inpocket-forming relation, side-edge flaps imperviously connected alongthe entire length of the longitudinal side edges of the back sheet, saidside edge flaps extending inwardly to freely overlie a substantial areaof the back sheet and providing an elongated open area of the underlyingback sheet between the opposed edges of said respective flaps, saidholder having a narrow crotch portion between its opposite end portions,and said longitudinal side edges having an accentuated converging taperof the opposite side edges of the holder from one of said end portionsinto said crotch portion, means for supporting said holder upon theperson, and an absorbent pad having a peripheral contour similar to theperipheral contour of the holder when the holder has its opposite endportions retroverted to form end pockets, and fitted snugly andreleasably within said holder over the back sheet and under The sideflaps and retroverted end portions.